International Rafting Federation

The Trip Leader

First you want to know if you are in the Trip Leader’s boat. The Trip Leader is generally the most experienced full time guide on the trip, but this is not always a good thing for you unless you are rafting with the kids or grandma. Since the Trip Leader is responsible for almost every aspect of the trip including every guest, there is a really low chance that this person will be able to relax enough to let you play on the river. While you are having fun jumping off rocks and swimming rapids, the Trip Leader is watching the flock like an overprotective shepherd. Luckily unless you are a group of hot girls, weak-looking paddlers, or rich-looking people, odds are you probably won’t be in the Trip Leader’s boat. Trip Leaders tend to cherry pick their crews since they are the ones who get to assign them. The good Trip Leaders (like the one pictured above) pick up the slack for the other guides, while the bad ones pick the crews that are most likely to tip or get them laid.

The Professional Staff Guide

The Professional Staff Guide is the core of the guide crew they work commercially sometimes 7 days a week throughout the summer and usually 3-5 days a week in the shoulder season. Typically these guides also do one of three things in the winter: travel, work at a ski resort, or work at another rafting company on the other side of the world. The good news is that Continue reading 4 Types of Guides You Will Meet Rafting ….

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, viewpoints or official policies of the IRF.

The principle of Smile & the big 3

During this brief post I wanted to share the tips I use to reduce the chances of my raft customers panicking during a swim.

I am getting on a bit now, I will be 43 this year! I first went kayaking when I was in primary school in my home city of Manchester in the UK. As most school kids one of the first things we were taught is that if we go upside down when the kayak capsizes is “TRY NOT TO PANIC”. Yeah right I know, sit upside down in plastic lunchbox in cold dark water that is around 10 degrees C in an oxygen poor environment wearing nothing more than a thin long john wetsuit with no dry top and try not to panic! Dream on – I don’t have wide shoulders for that!!

I eventually overcame the urge to panic and as the years passed by I found myself pleading with my guests not to panic when, as a result of my poor guiding skills, I would inevitably flip sending all of my customers for a swim. I am sure many raft guides will agree with me there is the twinge of guilt you feel when you see a customer panicking in the water as a result of a mistake made by yourself.

In 2007 I was lucky to work with a team of exceptional guides in Iceland on a demanding river that has a habit of making people (guides included) panic during a swim. Most of the guides quickly realised that panicking customers is bad for business for the following reasons:

Panicking creates added stress for all concerned parties, customers and guides, in a potentially stressful environment.

A panicking customer is not likely to return or become an advocate for your trips.

In the dawn of TripAdvisor and social media bad reviews are not good for business.

As a team of guides we asked “what can we do to stop our guests from panicking when they swim?”. Step forward Mr Chris from Canada. In a moment of clarity Chris said “Instead of telling the customers what we do not want them to do, lets tell them what we want them to do”. Bingo I thought!